Tackling Tradition 82: Acts 19:1 - 7

Those who make much of New Testament baptism have been known to assert that one must be baptized in the name of Christ in order to have received the Holy Spirit.       Some go so far to say that one must be baptized in order to do so.   One of their major prooftexts is Acts 19: 1 - 7. 19 While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples 2 and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spiritwhen you believed?” They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” 3 So Paul asked, “Then what baptism did you receive?” “John’s baptism,” they replied. 4 Paul said, “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.”5 On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophe...
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Psalm 26

 Vindicate me, O Lord,

for I have walked in my integrity,

and I have trusted in the Lord without wavering.

2  Prove me, O Lord, and try me;

test my heart and my mind.

3  For your steadfast love is before my eyes,

and I walk in your faithfulness.

4  I do not sit with men of falsehood,

nor do I consort with hypocrites.

5  I hate the assembly of evildoers,

and I will not sit with the wicked.

6  I wash my hands in innocence

and go around your altar, O Lord,

7  proclaiming thanksgiving aloud,

and telling all your wondrous deeds.

8  O Lord, I love the habitation of your house

and the place where your glory dwells.

9  Do not sweep my soul away with sinners,

nor my life with bloodthirsty men,

10  in whose hands are evil devices,

and whose right hands are full of bribes.

11  But as for me, I shall walk in my integrity;

redeem me, and be gracious to me.

12  My foot stands on level ground;

in the great assembly I will bless the Lord.  (Psalm 26:1–12, ESV)


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